Army bests Bloomfield in doubleheader sweep

Army's Dakari Cooke went 5-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored as the Army baseball team swept a doubleheader from Bloomfield on an overcast Saturday afternoon at Doubleday Field.

West Point - Kevin McKague combined to go 5-for-7 with five runs batted in and three runs scored, and Dakari Cooke went 5-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored as the Army baseball team swept a doubleheader from Bloomfield on an overcast Saturday afternoon at Doubleday Field.

Cooke went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and two RBI to lead Army (37-12) to an 11-5 victory in the opening game. McKague, meanwhile, powered the Black Knights to a 7-1 win in the nightcap, going 2-for-3 with a home run.

McKague was 3-for-4 with three RBI in the opener as Army broke free from a 4-all deadlock by scoring seven runs over its final three times at bat. Zach Price and Daniel Cortes combined to go 4-for-9 with five runs scored in that contest as both players collected two hits apiece.

Nick Dignacco (7-2) allowed just one run on three hits over four innings of relief to pick up his sixth straight victory. The sophomore left-hander struck out three and did not yield a walk.

Harold Earls registered three hits in the nightcap, going 3-for-4 with a double as Army wrapped up its 13th doubleheader sweep of the season. The Black Knights took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back as Logan Lee (6-2) limited Bloomfield to four hits over five scoreless innings. The senior lefty struck out five and did not issue a walk en route to the win.

Gunnar Carroll worked three scoreless frames to nail down his sixth save of the season. He allowed just one base hit, while striking out two.Bloomfield (21-19) was led by Rafael Medina, who combined to go 4-for-7 with two doubles and three RBI in the twinbill. Jonattan Fernandez collected two hits in both games and finished the doubleheader 4-for-9.

The Deacons took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opener on Medina’s RBI single. Emilio Fernandez doubled into the gap in left center field, and he scored from second base when Medina grounded a base hit through the right side of the infield.

Army responded with two runs in the bottom of the second inning to move in front, 2-1. Cody Murtle drew a leadoff walk, stole second base and scored when Cooke hammered an RBI double down the left field line. Cooke then scored the go-ahead run on Alex Jensen’s run-scoring single to right center field.Bloomfield answered Army’s rally in the top of the third, scoring three runs on three hits and one Army error to assume a 4-2 advantage.

Army fought back in the home half of the third inning, plating a pair of runs to tie the score at 4-all. Price ignited the uprising by blasting a leadoff double into the gap in left center field.

Army moved in front for good in the sixth as the Black Knights pushed across two runs on three hits. Cody Murtle led off the frame by ripping a home run over the fence in left field.

Army tacked on an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning, before blowing the game open with four runs in the eighth. Bloomfield manufactured a run in the top of the ninth to round out the scoring.

John Vilichka (1-3) took the loss for the Deacons after allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits over three innings of relief.

The Black Knights jumped on top, 2-0, in the first inning of the nightcap. McKague got the rally going by smacking a two-out double down the left field line. Watkins followed with a double of his own, hammering a pitch down the right field line to drive home McKague. Murtle capped the two-out uprising by lining an RBI single to center field. The Black Knights made it 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth on McKague’s home run.

Army put the game out of reach in the bottom of the seventh, pushing across three runs on two hits and one Bloomfield error.

Bloomfield starter Eric Kamp (2-4) took the loss as the lefty gave up seven runs on 10 hits in six innings.

Army returns to action on May 12, when the top-seeded Black Knights host fourth-seeded Lafayette in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals.

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